The Branch

What if the most important thing you could do for the people you love is simply share what God has done in your life? In Ephesians 2, Paul makes it clear that without Christ, we are dead in our sins — not struggling, not searching, but dead. And yet, those two powerful words change everything: "But God."God's strategy for reaching a lost world is not complicated. It is you. Your stor...

This discussion explores the theological depth, historical context, and practical significance of communion for Christians today. Drawing on the roots of the Passover meal and tracing the fulfillment of that tradition through Jesus at the Last Supper, the conversation highlights how communion is far more than a ritual — it is a sacred act of remembrance, unity, and encounter with God.

What happens when God calls us to do something that terrifies us? This conversation digs into one of the most honest tensions in the Christian life: the gap between where we are and where God is calling us to go. Using Peter's dramatic transformation as a lens, we explore what it truly means to be empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than relying on sheer willpower. Peter's story is not jus...

In this episode of The Branch podcast, Pastor Chris Reed sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson to revisit Sunday's message from Romans 8. Together they talk about suffering, God's plan for our lives, and how the Holy Spirit prays for us when we don't have the words. You'll hear both pastors share honest stories from seasons when God felt distant. Chris describes pain as a fog that...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by anxiety, even when you know God is good? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi rejoins Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed for an honest, personal conversation about finding peace when the storm does not seem to end. Listeners will hear the three pastors open up about their own seasons of unsettledness, wrestling with anxiety, and...

Pastor Chris Reed and Pastor Matthew Johnson dig deeper into Matthew's recent sermon on hearing God's voice. They talk through why believers still need the Spirit's specific guidance beyond scripture's general wisdom, the difference between seeking a sign and seeking His voice, and what to do when God feels silent. Matthew shares personal stories along the way, including a pivotal...

Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit nudge you to do something, but talked yourself out of it before you could act? That quiet prompting to pray for someone, to reach out, to step into something uncomfortable, that is the Holy Spirit at work. In this week's Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi rejoins Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed for an honest, personal conversation about lear...

True transformation is not a sprint, and it is not a marathon. It is a lifestyle. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris and Pastor Matthew talk honestly about what it looks like to let the Holy Spirit shape, correct, and lead us toward the life God designed, if we are willing to listen. The hardest part is surrendering control. We all want to get better, but on our own terms. Real ch...

Have you ever felt God moving in your life but didn't have the words to describe it? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Matthew and Pastor Chris sit down for an honest, personal conversation about the Holy Spirit. They share their very different spiritual backgrounds, one shaped by a charismatic upbringing, the other by a quieter Lutheran tradition, and how those experiences led the...

Faith and science are often put on opposite sides, but Pastor Chris Reed, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, and Pastor Matthew Johnson do not think that tension has to exist. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, the three pastors go deeper on Pastor Tim's recent message and work through some of the biggest questions at the intersection of faith and science. They talk through what Genesis was actually...

What does it actually mean to believe Jesus is the only way in a world that says every path leads to the same place? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Chris Reed sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson for an honest and grounded conversation about truth, relativism, and the exclusivity of Christ in a pluralistic culture. They discuss how faith is both intellectual and experiential, why every be...

Why do so many people struggle to trust the Bible? In this episode, we explore some of the biggest questions driving deconstruction—hypocrisy, suffering, culture, contradictions, science, and authority—and discuss how faith can be reconstructed on truth instead of emotion, misinformation, or bad experiences. 

Social media has put theology in everyone's pocket - but is it forming us or deforming us? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Anthony Lombardi, Matthew Johnson, and Chris Reed examine the world of Christian influencers and short-form theological content. They explore why platform size does not equal credibility, how algorithms quietly shape belief, and why genuine spiritual growth...

What does it look like to deconstruct and reconstruct your faith in a healthy way? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris Reed, Pastor Matthew Johnson, and Pastor Anthony Lombardi tackle that question head-on - and the answer starts with humility. The conversation covers why demanding that God make sense on our terms is rooted in a consumer-culture arrogance, and why real trust in God...

What does saving faith actually require - and has the church made it too easy? In this episode of The Branch, Pastor Matthew Johnson, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, and Pastor Chris Reed have an honest and searching conversation about faith: what it means at the moment of salvation, how it grows through obedience, and what it costs when we choose not to follow. The pastors explore the lordship salvation...

What does the Bible actually say about the spiritual realm - and how does it affect the everyday life of a Christian? In this episode of The Branch, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, Pastor Matthew Johnson, and Pastor Chris Reed take on one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian faith. The pastors trace angels, demons, and satanic influence through both the Old and New Testaments, address what a...

Episode 100 of The Branch Podcast brings Pastors Matthew Johnson, Anthony Lombardi, and Chris Reed together for one of their most candid conversations to date. The episode opens with a look back at some of the funniest moments from ministry life before turning to the story of how The Branch began - organic theological conversations in the church office that staff kept stopping to listen to. From t...

Immigration is one of the most complex and emotionally charged topics of our cultural moment. In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastors Matthew Johnson, Anthony Lombardi, and Chris Reed approach the conversation not from a political platform but from a biblical one. Drawing on Scripture from Genesis through Revelation, they explore why Christians are called to hold both justice and compassion...

What does it really mean to share your faith — and do you have to be a theologian to do it? In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastors Anthony, Matthew, and Chris have an open, encouraging conversation about evangelism. They define what evangelism is, why the ultimate goal is relationship with God, and why personal testimony is far more powerful than winning a theological argument. Drawing on...

In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Chris, Matthew, and Anthony discuss the sovereignty of God and how it anchors believers in peace. What does it mean that God is in control? How do we reconcile human choice with divine authority? And how should Christians respond to cultural fear, political tension, and personal suffering? Drawing from Romans 8:28, Daniel 4, the story of Joseph, Revel...

When is God calling you to step forward in faith, and when is He asking you to step back and trust Him? In this episode of The Branch, Matthew Johnson is joined by Pastors Anthony Lombardi and Pastor Chris Reed to talk through the tension between action and surrender. Sometimes obedience means taking initiative. Other times it means waiting and letting God move. But how do you know the difference?...

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed to discuss a challenging topic from the book of Psalms. Some of the psalms include prayers where the writers cry out to God in anger and ask Him to bring judgment against their enemies. These passages can feel intense and even uncomfortable. So how should Christians understand...

In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Matthew, Anthony, and Chris discuss a thoughtful question many married couples face. Can God call one spouse to make a major life change that the other spouse does not agree with? Through honest dialogue and real-life examples, the pastors talk through what calling looks like for Christians, how it can shift through different seasons, and how marriage...

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris Reed is joined by Pastor Anthony Lombardi for an honest and thoughtful conversation about how Christians discern good and evil in a complicated world. With culture, politics, and media often pulling in competing directions, the Pastors reflect on how followers of Jesus are called to think wisely, remain grounded in Scripture, and live faithfully....

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, pastors Anthony Lombardi, Matthew Johnson, and Chris Reed talk honestly about what it means to live a successful life as a Christian. Rather than measuring success by money, influence, career advancement, or recognition, the conversation reframes success as faithfulness to God in every season. The pastors walk through practical areas where success is often mi...